Fire engine



(-No Model.) l 2 Sheets-SheetI 1. B. J. C. I-IOWB.

PIRE ENGINE.

Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

ll UJJ (No Modell) 2 Sheets-Shet 2. B. J C. HOWE.

FIRE ENGINE.

Patented Aug. 1, 1882.

IIIIIIIIII I. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHI UNTTT-Ln STaTns PATENT muere,

BENJAMIN J. O. HOWE, OF SYRAGUSE, ASSIGNOR TO THE REMINGTON AGRICULTURAL COMPANY, OF ILION, NEWV YORK.

FIRE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,196, dated August 1, 1882.

Application filed April 24, 1882.

To all rwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN J. O.'H'owE, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fire-Engines, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements on the tire-engine for which Letters Patent were issued to me, bearing date July 12,'1881, and numbered 244,131; and the invention consists in the substitution of rotary pumps for the reciprocating pumps formerly used, and in certain modilications ofthe engine to adapt it to the change mentioned.

In the drawings representing my improvements, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2A

and end view, looking from the rear. Fig. 3 is a top plan-view, showing the relative position of the pumps and the drive-wheel.

The object of this invention is to render the action of the engine more steady and regular than heretofore, to distribute the strain equally on all sides of the post or axle of the drh-'ingwheel, and to render the engine compact without placing the pumps in positions where they will be dilieult of access.

Vith these objects in view I construct my improved engine as shown in the drawings, in which A represents the frame, preferably made of metal, and mounted upon wheel B. .At the top of the frame is a horizontal internallytoothed driving-gear, C, rotating about a tubular post or axle, a, upon the top of which is an air-chamber, D, connected by the tubular post a and a pipe, I), with the water chest or chamber E, into which the several pumps discharge their water.

F represents a pinion, a series of which are arranged at equal distances from one another about the post a, and caused to mesh with the gear-wheel O. Each pinion is secured rigidly upon the shaft of a rotary pump, G, which thus receives motion direct and without the intervention of any mechanism whatever. In this way I avoid loss from indirectness ot application ot' the power, and also the friction attending the use ot numerous intermediate parts. The motion being a continuous one, there is no vibration orjumpingof the engine (No model.)

l soobjectionableinreciprocating-pumpeugines, and the wearof the hose and supply-pipe caused by the movement of the engine rubbing said hose and pipe back and-forth on the ground is avoided. It will also be seen that under this arrangement the strain upon the post or axle a is on all sides alike. Hence there is no tendency to tip or twist said post out ot its true vertical position, nor is there any tendency of the wheel U to rock or tip in rotating.

IVhile I prefer to arrange the pumps at equal distances apart around the -center post, I do not limit myself to that arrangement, as in some cases it may be found desirable to group the pumps at the rear to bring their weight directly over the axle.

The engine thus constructed is light, compact, and serviceable, and the rotary pumps are peculiarly adapted to this style of engine, in which a constant motion iu one direction is produced by the driving-power in the tirst instance.

The gear-wheel Gis furnished with a sweep or operating-lever, H, as in my former patent, and is further provided with means for warming the water pumped,andotherimprovements, which, however, constitute the sul'iject-matter of a separate application ot' even dateherewith.

In order that the suction-pipeI maybe couveniently passed beneath the driving-wheel G to its supporting arm or bracket c, a roller, d, is applied to the side ot' the engine or frame at the rear, over which the pipe can be shoved lengthwise to its place, the forward end being sustained by the hook or bracket and the rear end by the roller, as indicated.

To prevent the engine from moving or tipping while in action, I pivot to the sides of the frame, directly over the rear axle, braces or bars J, carrying at their outer ends a crossbar, K, which serves as a chock l'or the. rear wheels when lowered, as in Fig. 1, and maybe secured by stakes or pegs g to prevent the forward movement of the engine. To still further steady the engine, I attach to the under side of the hounds of the front axle a rod or bar, L, perforated at its outer end to receive a stake or peg, f, when lowered, as in Fig. l, said rod or bar being held up by a staple, e,

on the lower side of the tongue, as shown in dotted lines, when the engine is not in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a horse-power fire-engine, the combination of a horizontal rotary driving gear- Wheel provided with a sweep or lever, a rotary pump, and a pinion secured to the pumpshaft and meshing directly with the drivinggear, whereby all intermediate mechanism between the driving gear-wheel and the pump is dispensed with.

2. The combination, substantially as herein described, of a horizontal driving gear-wheel and a series of rotary pumps arranged concentrically about, the supporting post; or axle of said wheel, and adapted to be directly driven thereby, as explained, whereby the post is relieved of unequal side strain.

3. The herein-described ireengine, consisting of frame A, wheels B, drivingwheel C,

bar K secured thereto, the arms J being of 35 such length and so pivoted in relation to the wheels as to cause said cross-bar to rest; upon the ground and against the wheels when lowered, substantially as and for the purpose set; forth.

BENJAMIN J. C. HOVVE. Vitliesses:

Myrna S. DODGE, XVILLIAM W. DODGE. 

